DownUnder Board

[edingc]

I've been thinking about what exactly is changing with the DUB between my feet. No kidding, it's a night and day difference with my long irons when the board is between my feet. That's not to say I didn't hit any bad shots while practicing with the board, but my path was noticeably better which led to more center face strikes. I can tell when my path starts going left because I start toeing everything and/or snap hooking.

I'm pretty sure the board is forcing my left side to forward bend in the backswing a bit more than I do without.  The feel for me is that my right (rear) leg straightens more, and the left (front) shoulder goes down and out under my chin when this happens. As a result, my backswing gets a little more vertical which then leads to a better shallowing move on the downswing and weight moving into the front of my left foot instead of immediately into my heel.

A quick animation of what I mean:

I know that doesn't seem like much, but as someone who used to come really flat and really inside, that's a monumental shift in position at the top.

[RickyBobby_PR]

4 hours ago, edingc said:

I've been thinking about what exactly is changing with the DUB between my feet. No kidding, it's a night and day difference with my long irons when the board is between my feet. That's not to say I didn't hit any bad shots while practicing with the board, but my path was noticeably better which led to more center face strikes. I can tell when my path starts going left because I start toeing everything and/or snap hooking.

I'm pretty sure the board is forcing my left side to forward bend in the backswing a bit more than I do without.  The feel for me is that my right (rear) leg straightens more, and the left (front) shoulder goes down and out under my chin when this happens. As a result, my backswing gets a little more vertical which then leads to a better shallowing move on the downswing and weight moving into the front of my left foot instead of immediately into my heel.

A quick animation of what I mean:

I know that doesn't seem like much, but as someone who used to come really flat and really inside, that's a monumental shift in position at the top.

Without the board start with a squeeze of the inner thighs. Not a lot just enough to feel it. Also at the start of the takeaway feel pressure into the right foot right around where you tie your shoes and let it build up as you finish the backswing.

Iirc if you Google Bradley Hughes pressure he has some videos where he talks about having lots of pressure in the trail foot

[tony@CIC]

If you are going to spend $20 just get you a piece of 3/4 plywood cut to 12x18. That’s the board size used by Bradley forever before the downunderboard board. If you want a smaller one then cut 12x16. If you don’t have the equipment to cut the plywood Home Depot and Lowe’s make 2 cuts for free

Is the standard size 12X18?


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[Tom the Golf Nut]

22 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

Is the standard size 12X18?


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Yes, 12 x 18 is the standard. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

37 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

Is the standard size 12X18?


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Yeah that’s the standard size Bradley always used. It wasn’t til he did the downunderboard that the white 12x16 came about and was only a few months back the blue (youth) board came about.

the 12x18 is designed to be used with long irons 3 or 4. His drills are done with a heavy long iron. The 12x16 designed to be used with mid iron work, you will see lots of the pros using this one on the range with the mid irons. 

[edingc]

I really like the feels the board gives me. A great sense of balance at address and through the swing.

Took it outside and worked on short game feels and then hit some chips and pitches. Amazing how great of contact I was making (this was like two shag tubes of balls):

 

 

[ChitownM2]

This looks like a DIY project that I will have to try....now to start scouring for all of my scrap wood as I think I have everything I need already

[BMart519]

I have extra plywood sitting in my garage that I can use to make one of these. As a trial, I engaged my inner thighs while in golf posture to squeeze my feet together without a board or rolled both ankles in so the outside edges of both feet were off the ground. It's had positive results...

Based on "feels" and mirror work, it seems to eliminate a bit of slop in the backswing which for me produces some sway. I'm not sure that I personally need the board, before the swing I just cue myself to squeeze the ground together with my feet or roll ankles in to build tension in my lower body. 

But I am going to measure a couple baking pans underneath the oven...  If there is something laying around that is the rough size so I don't need to cut and sand anything, it may get some use. 

[cnosil]

People have talked about DIYing this and saw this today and thought it provided some info about how the product works;

 

 

[tony@CIC]

17 hours ago, cnosil said:

People have talked about DIYing this and saw this today and thought it provided some info about how the product works;

 

 

What a great video. Not only the use of the board relative to foot position but also alignment and ball position. There's a cutting board in our house that's going to go missing. 

Thanks for sharing

[oyamtr]

MSG is awesome.  Love his videos.  Great idea and save some dough to lose at the course.

[Eric K]

On 12/2/2020 at 10:30 AM, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I can't help myself… I was an Engineer and the son of a carpenter. I have all the materials available at the house. I'll build one this afternoon.  

Tom. Regarding the pro board dimensions- looking down at address is each panel 10 1/2” long (heel to toe) and 14-18” wide?

[Tom the Golf Nut]

38 minutes ago, Eric K said:

Tom. Regarding the pro board dimensions- looking down at address is each panel 10 1/2” long (heel to toe) and 14-18” wide?

The board started out different sizes by the manufacturer as seen below. Then they came out with the adjustable board but kept the heel to toe at 10.5".   I already had a 12" board so I used that. I made my width to 17 " because that was what I felt comfortable with.  18" felt just a little to wide for me.   

Blue Board - 10.5" x 14.5"
White Board - 12" x 16"
Black Board - 12" x 18"
"Pro" Adjustable Board - 10.5" x 14"-18"

[B_R_A_D_Y]

Did u get the video & bag for drills as well?

[edingc]

On 2/6/2021 at 5:08 PM, B_R_A_D_Y said:

Did u get the video & bag for drills as well?

Assume this was directed at me. You get a 15 minute video with purchase. I did not purchase the impact bag. 

I keep this in my practice bag and throw it down for 10-15 swings to help loosen up the hips before hitting balls. I've made some great progress this winter using the board and the Planemate.

[GolfSpy MPR]

Thinking that I'm also likely to make a custom version of this for myself. I've got some pressboard in the garage. I'll get Kirke or my wife to help me: I'm going to take my stance and then mark my foot position for a wedge shot and some mid-iron. Kind of a hybrid of the version 1 and 2 of the DUB.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

30 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

Thinking that I'm also likely to make a custom version of this for myself. I've got some pressboard in the garage. I'll get Kirke or my wife to help me: I'm going to take my stance and then mark my foot position for a wedge shot and some mid-iron. Kind of a hybrid of the version 1 and 2 of the DUB.

I placed a metal yardstick on the hitting mat and took some swings then looked down for the measurement and added an inch. The additional inch was to get a wider stance than what I was used to. This was to help in getting grounded and a little more of an athletic stance. The pro board is at 18" wide. I wound up with 17"  

[TBT]

Hmmmm......I’ve got lots of scrap lumber laying around


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[cnosil]

Thinking that I'm also likely to make a custom version of this for myself. I've got some pressboard in the garage. I'll get Kirke or my wife to help me: I'm going to take my stance and then mark my foot position for a wedge shot and some mid-iron. Kind of a hybrid of the version 1 and 2 of the DUB.

Just to make sure, you are doing a length for the mid iron and the width for wedge. Only need 1 board.

[GolfSpy MPR]

16 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Just to make sure, you are doing a length for the mid iron and the width for wedge. Only need 1 board.

I'm gonna decide. Because I'm planning to build to my stance, I'm planning to have the front foot flared (like you can do with the Version 2.0 board). Getting all the angles correct with two flared sides might make for a very odd piece, where it might end up being simpler to have to boards.

[Golfermarcus]

Some additional pictures from today:



As you can see, the 2.0 version of the board is two pieces of what I'm guessing is molded 1/4" ABS plastic, joined with two thumbscrews and wing nuts with slots for adjustment.
From a purely looks standpoint, replacing the sticker (which isn't applied perfectly straight anyway) with a laser-etched logo would going a long way toward making the board more professional and premium.
I've been messing around with 9-to-3 swings in the basement using the board. It's a nice reminder to rotate and not sway. This is something I'm working very hard on this offseason. I also took it outside fully extended and tried a few "dry" swings with my driver without a ball and think it will be helpful with maintaining balance with my longer clubs.
Is it worth $110+ with taxes and shipping? That questions still remains to be answered during my winter practice sessions. I have these very specific problems that I'm working on, and I think it will help me. I also have the Planemate lying around that is almost solely for takeaway practice, and I also have the DST Compressor 8 iron that until recently hadn't been swung in almost a year. I'm no stranger to training aids, but they have specific purposes for my game.
 

I made my own from MFD; it took some significant time though to get it right and then painting it. I think the main benefit to this point is i picked up
a jigsaw (long slots have to be cut)and some woodworking skills! I imagine the wood is harder on the shoes compared to ABS though!


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[Golfermarcus]

I made my own from MFD; it took some significant time though to get it right and then painting it. I think the main benefit to this point is i picked up
a jigsaw (long slots have to be cut)and some woodworking skills! I imagine the wood is harder on the shoes compared to ABS though!


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Think of the profit Hughes is raking in on this!


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I'm gonna decide. Because I'm planning to build to my stance, I'm planning to have the front foot flared (like you can do with the Version 2.0 board). Getting all the angles correct with two flared sides might make for a very odd piece, where it might end up being simpler to have to boards.

Def easier w/ 2 boards


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[dlow206]

I tried it and it didn't result in any change (positive or negative) to my early extension problem, so that means that my early extension is caused mostly by right shoulder dipping movement. 

Going to focus on fixing my upper body issues and then come back to the Down under board.

[null]

1 hour ago, dlow206 said:

I tried it and it didn't result in any change (positive or negative) to my early extension problem, so that means that my early extension is caused mostly by right shoulder dipping movement. 

Going to focus on fixing my upper body issues and then come back to the Down under board.

More often than not, early extension is the result of a lower body issue rather than an upper body issue. 
 

If your right shoulder is dipping, it’s likely because it’s trying to compensate for something you’re doing incorrectly in the waist or lower body. 

[dlow206]

2 hours ago, jlukes said:

More often than not, early extension is the result of a lower body issue rather than an upper body issue. 
 

If your right shoulder is dipping, it’s likely because it’s trying to compensate for something you’re doing incorrectly in the waist or lower body. 

What was happening previously was my left arm would stay pinned to my chest in the downswing, so my left side would start to move downwards a bit, but then in order to not get steep, my right shoulder would dip down, and then i would early extend. So a combo of upper body and lower body things going on. Working on fixing it and finally figured out what feel i need to feel in order to not do that.

[GolfSpy MPR]

Finally got around to building mine last night!

Scrap piece of particle board, cut to my stance, wrapped in a bit of old putting green, with a couple pieces of scrap underneath to give it some height. The deck screws I had on hand were slightly too tall and had to be shaved off.

[GolfSpy MPR]

Hmmmmmm...something promising?

First, a bit of background for what I'm hoping to get from my DIYDUB. One of the negative tendencies of my swing is a pronounced forward sway into impact. I think that early on in getting back into golf, I was introduced to the importance of getting weight forward. But I'm pretty sure I do it all out of sequence and by sending my upper body down the target line, so that I have to flip my hands behind to make impact. Because of the way I shift the center of swing forward, I tend to create an out-to-in path; especially with the driver, this creates my worst miss, the dead pull draw.

So I'm hoping that using the DIYDUB will keep my center of mass more over/behind the ball.

Spent a little time using the DIYDUB for a bit yesterday afternoon. Tried incorporating the feel of the DUB in my nine-hole round with my boys this morning. [A bit of noise in the data: I also swapped out driver shafts last night, cutting down my Smoke Black an inch with the hope of my consistent striking.]

Early returns this morning were very positive. The DIYDUB feeling is very odd to me, and I'm very interested if anyone else can relate to this: it makes my swing feel very weak, almost old man-ish. I'm sure this is wrong, and especially if my strike is improved, I'll likely end up with better ball speeds.

Here's what I learned: first tee, first swing, I hit a massive right miss foul ball. Made me smile, to be honest: I can deal with a right miss, because I can bring that back simply by intending to hit through the ball (which I hesitate to do sometimes for fear of going left). Took a breakfast ball with the same DUB feeling but more intent to finish the swing, and viola, a simple 240 drive down the right side of the fairway.

I'd love to tell you that what followed was my best driving round of the year—wait, actually I can tell you that. But it still wasn't impressive. I was camping in the low 200s for distance the rest of the round. I lost one more way right (gotta commit to hitting the ball!) and then one left miss sneaked back in (barely staying IB). But in general, I was keeping the ball in front of me much more successfully than I had in any round previous this year.

Across the board, my ball-striking was more crisp than it was in previous rounds this season. I had one disaster hole (a quad with two hit trees after being out of position off the tee with the wide right miss); I was 3-over on the other 8 holes.

So we might be in the honeymoon stage, but I'm going to keep using this thing for now. Yes, I look silly wearing a PlaneMate standing over a DIYDUB while striking a DivotBoard. But no one is there while I'm doing that.

[GregB135]

I've been using the DUB since late February and I really like it. I also bought the adjustable pro board.

Like Golfspy MPR said above, I use it for about 15-20 warm up swings at the beginning of my practice sessions.

I'll start with a few 1/2 swing/full finish 7 irons, then move to 3/4 and finish with 5 or 6 full swings. I'll also use it together with my G-force tempo trainer 7 iron. 

In general, my ball striking has gotten much better over those 3 months. My FIR % has gone up from 30% to 50%, and in my round this past weekend I added 50% GIR to boot. Up significantly after averaging only 3-4 GIR per round over the last year or so.

[Granata13]

I also bought the DUB and have been really happy with it.  It has helped me to turn through the ball better.  I have a tendency to stop turning and early extend and the board has helped me out.  I will say this if you are doing it yourself and your might consider just making it a rectangle and not worrying about flaring out your foot.  In a lot of Bradley Hughes videos he recommends starting square to learn the feeling and then go from there

[golfswng]

It is so easy to make your own absolutely FREE.  Go the PO and get a priority mail shipping box.  They have one that is the same size as the DUB, 15 x 12 inches.  Simply stuff in with newspaper to give it some weight and support.  You can use the short side or the long side.   Been using mine for two weeks or more with no wear or tear.